When using the 3D camera tracker in Aftereffects, you can…ask it to create what is called a shadow catcher.…And a shadow catcher is a layer designed just to cast shadows in Aftereffects.…So when I put a new element in and…light shines through it, this layer will contain shadows only.…And it won't contain any pixels, apart from the shadows.…So it's a really good way of being able…to composite shadows onto elements.…And it's done by after effects automatically…creating a layer that has except shadows only.…

So if I switch that to off, you'll see it's a regular layer.…If I switch it to on It will have shadows and…the pixels, and if I say only, it will only contain shadows.…So After Effects does that for you.…Now what we are going to do is we are going to create…a similar thing in CINEMA 4D, but before we bring…it into CINEMA 4D, I just want to correct the rotation.…You'll notice it's not, rotated in the correct way,…to fit in with the top of the building there.…So all we're going to do is just make some adjustments to the shadow catcher.…

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Author

Updated

4/8/2016

Released

8/28/2013

Intimidated by 3D modeling packages? Dip a toe in the water with CINEMA 4D (C4D) Lite, a slimmed down version of CINEMA 4D included with After Effects CC. Motion graphics designer Angie Taylor shows you how to build a complete sequence in C4D Lite, progressing from initial object modeling, to animation, lighting, camera rigging, texturing, and final render. Plus, learn to animate text, create random movement with wiggle expressions, track cameras in live-action footage to add new 3D elements, and light your scene. Angie also round-trips the project files to After Effects for visual effects and color correction. With over 100 videos, this course allows you to explore almost every aspect of 3D motion graphics creation, within this accessible introductory tool.

Topics include:

What is CINEMA 4D Lite?

Understanding the CINEMA 4D Lite and After Effects CC workflow

Editing primitive objects

Spline modeling with NURBS

Animating with keyframes

Using Xpresso to link properties

Importing music and soundtracks

Creating and animating cameras

Working with text

Scripting

Creating and applying materials and textures

3D camera tracking

Compositing layers

Lighting with visible lights and ambient occlusion

Adding visual effects in After Effects

Rendering in After Effects and the Adobe Media Encoder

Skill Level Beginner

9h 32m

Duration

617,116

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Q: This course was updated on 01/15/2015. What changed?

A: We updated movies in chapter 5, 10, and 12, and added a new set of
exercise files to make the course compatible with the latest versions of
After Effects CC (2014.1) and CINEWARE. Watch the "Checking out the new
CINEWARE features with After Effects CC 2014.1" movie for an overview
of the changes.

Q: This course was updated on 04/08/2016. What changed?

A: We added one new movie and updated the rest of the tutorials in chapter 8, "Materials and Textures in CINEMA 4D Lite."